Skip to main content

Installing yt-dlp Using pip

pip is the recommended method for installing yt-dlp when you have Python available on your system.

Basic Installation​

Standard Installation​

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

Alternative pip Command​

pip3 install -U yt-dlp

Installation Options​

Install from PyPI​

The standard installation downloads the latest stable release from the Python Package Index:

python3 -m pip install yt-dlp

Upgrade Existing Installation​

To update to the latest version:

python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp

Install Specific Version​

To install a particular version:

python3 -m pip install yt-dlp==2023.07.06

Platform-Specific Considerations​

Windows​

  • Use py -m pip install -U yt-dlp if Python launcher is available
  • Ensure Python and pip are in your PATH

macOS​

  • Use python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp
  • Consider using Homebrew's Python installation

Linux​

  • Use python3 -m pip install -U yt-dlp
  • Some distributions may require python3-pip package

Troubleshooting pip Installation​

Permission Issues​

If you encounter permission errors:

python3 -m pip install --user yt-dlp

pip Not Found​

Ensure pip is installed:

python3 -m ensurepip --upgrade

Python Version Compatibility​

yt-dlp requires Python 3.8 or later. Check your Python version:

python3 --version

Verification​

After installation, verify yt-dlp is working:

yt-dlp --version

This should display the installed version number and confirm successful installation.